Newcastle boss Pardew has admitted disagreements with then-chairman Nicola Cortese caused his departure from St Mary's in 2010, but remains proud of the players he signed for the club, including star striker Ricky Lambert.

Asked if he had been scarred by his exit, just five games into the 2010-11 season, Pardew said: “No, I was quite happy about it, as I thought I’d done a good job.

“It was proving to be very, very ­difficult to work with the owner. We just didn’t see eye to eye.

“There was no nastiness, he just didn’t want me as his manager and I think that was coming through to me.”

Pardew says his experiences in League One meant he appreciated his current job more, and feels he left some decent players on the South Coast.

He added: “We were on minus-10 points and didn’t have a starting XI when I arrived.

"But the overriding factor for me was the players I left behind in League One.

"I’m talking Fontaine, Lallana, Calvin, Lambert, Puncheon, who I took to the club.

“I signed Lambert, aged 28, for £1million and told the chairman at the time he could play in the Premier League – and he’s proved me right.”

Ad it up: Nigel denies any debt to Pardew

Broke when I found it: Adkins has steered Southampton from the lower reaches of League One to the top flight (Photo: Christopher Lee)

By Alex Crook

Nigel Adkins has told Alan Pardew he cannot take any of the plaudits for Southampton's rise from League One to the Premier League.

Pardew returns to the St Mary's Stadium tomorrow for the first time since being axed by chairman Nicola Cortese just four games into the 2010-11 season.

Many Saints fans credit the Newcastle boss with laying the foundations for the club's return to the top flight by signing the likes of goal machine Rickie Lambert and key defender Jose Fonte.

But Adkins said: "I don't think I owe him any debt at all. When I came to this football club we were 21st in League One and now we are in the Premier League.

"Some of the players may be the same but this is my team. We've just had back-to-back promotions and we're doing ever so well in our forward progression.

"Whatever situation arose, he moved on and I am the manager of Southampton Football Club. We have come a hell of a long way in a short space of time."

Current top-scorer Lambert was playing for Bristol Rovers, a club now languishing just above League Two's relegation zone, before Pardew brought him to the south coast.